Fédération Internationale de Philatélie Postal History & Postal Stationery Workshop/Seminar Taipei 28 April 2015 Hong Kong 20 November 2015 NRB 1
1. INTRODUCTION AIM GREV, SREV, Guidelines state WHAT to do this workshop aims to show HOW To pick on problem areas Exhibitors to get a better award Judges what to look for when judging Exhibiting + Judging = opposite sides of the same coin 2
EXHIBITING Two basic rules for exhibiting at National, FIAP and FIP exhibitions: Your exhibit MUST tell a story this applies to ALL classes Every exhibit should have a Title Page with an Introductory Statement, a Plan and a short list of References 3
2. GREV, SREV + GUIDELINES The basis of exhibit evaluation or judging of Competitive Exhibits at FIP Exhibitions GREV = General Regulations ALL Classes SREV = Special Regulations by Class Guidelines more detail by Class YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THEM SO READ THEM READ THEM AGAIN AND READ THEM AGAIN 4
3. A GOOD EXHIBIT Need to make Judges think it is a good exhibit PRESENTATION - Looks Good = neat layout easy to read - Avoid covers one up, one down or tram lines TREATMENT - Good title states subject clearly - Tells a STORY complete no gaps - Develops logically NEVER use the word Display it is an EXHIBIT 5
3. Good Exhibit - 2 Title Page needs to invite people to Come and Look at Me An item on Title Page may help but not too big Use a Computer it looks better Writing up is NOT an exercise in Calligraphy 6
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4. TITLE PAGE = WHAT WHY - HOW KEY TO A GOOD EXHIBIT IS A GOOD TITLE PAGE GREV 3.3 The title must describe the contents of the exhibit Bad titles: - 1960 Pictorials - which country?? - Avoid gimmicky or smart titles Emma Chizit? [Corruption of How Much Is It? = Postage Due Mail] 9
Subject of the Exhibit GREV 3.3: The exhibit shall show a clear concept of the subject treated and The concept shall be laid out in an introductory statement BEST SET OF RULES for TITLE PAGE are in the Postal Stationery Guidelines 2.3 Title Page should consist of - 10
Title Page - 3 a. Title of the Exhibit b. Short, precise and relevant general information on the subject Description of Purpose of the Exhibit Description of the Scope of the Exhibit ( what is included and what omitted) Plan of the structure of exhibit List of personal Research by Exhibitor List of the most important literature references 11
Judging the Title Page Title Page is judged on whether it - Introduces the purpose of the exhibit - Defines the scope of the exhibit - Explains the structure of the exhibit - Has a Plan of the exhibit - Mentions the most important references 12
Plan Frame 1 - Pages 1 16 Frame 2 - Pages 17 32 Frame 3 - Pages 33 48 etc Is this a PLAN? WHY? No section headings - No idea of exhibit structure BETTER - Frame 1 Local letter Rates (4 August 1883 to...) Frame 2 Inland Letter Rates ( 26 August 1885 to...) We know what is in each frame 13
Is this better? 1. FOREIGN PRINTED MATTER 1878 1914 [Frames 1-2] Any printed matter in a wrapper from a foreign country was subject to censorship... 2. PRISON MAIL 1884 1916 [Frames 2-3] In the early 1900s there were up to 1 million people in the eight... 3. RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR 1904 1905 [Frame 4] The only mail that shows censor marks is to foreign countries this... 4. WORLD WAR I 1914 1917 [Frames 4-10] Military censorship in World War I was authorised on 20 July 1914 O.S. Russia mobilized on 17.7.14 O.S. and all mail... This shows the structure and where to find each section - Different styles suit different subjects 14
Example Title Page 15
5. REFERENCES Give a list of 5 or 6 references you have consulted - at the bottom of the Title Page WHY?? - it tells the judges that the exhibitor is aware of the main references for that subject - It tells the judges which references they can read to help them judge your exhibit fairly - Exhibitor can show if they have written a book or article on the subject put your name in Bold characters 16
Correct References - Books - Title (+ volume if more than one) - Author - Publisher - Publication Year Australian Commonwealth Specialists Catalogue Section 12 Postal Stationery, Brusden-White 2013 In one line Some people prefer Author first. But the subject is more important. 17
Correct References - Journals Title of Article - Author - Title of Journal Issue = Volume + Year + Issue (no. or month) - London Philatelist 1400 issues which one? - NZ Stamp Collector published since 1919 -? - Australia s Printed to Private Order Envelopes, S Schumann & W Menuz, Postal Stationery (USA), May-June 2001, Vol 43 No 3, No 318, + Addendum July-August 2001 18
6. ALL EXHIBITS Make sure you have your exhibit is in right class - An exhibit of stamps (mint/used/proofs/varieties) plus covers showing usage of each face value stamp is Traditional covers do NOT make it P.H. Not necessary to put Title on all pages wastes space Pages with 1 cover per page keep to minimum I use average of 1.8 covers/page = 230 in 8 frames Vary layout descriptions can be at side of cover to get 2 covers per page 19
7. POSTAL HISTORY EXHIBITS Postal History SREV 8.2 generally deals with: Routes Rates Postal Markings Some problem areas: - An exhibit MUST tell a story + have logical development - A collection of covers without a story is not a good exhibit - Forerunners 3 to 7 pages in an 8 frame exhibit is enough 20
Rates important face value of each stamp NOT required e.g. total only - Paid 24c to England should be: Rate 24c = double 12c letter rate for ½ to 1 ounce Try this layout clear + easy to understand: Paid 13½a. For weight 50-60 gr. Letter rate: Air Mail fee: Can go at side of cover First 20 gr. 3 a. Extra @ 1½a. X 2 = 3 a. 1½a./10 gr. X 5 = 7 ½ a. Total 13½ a. SG, Scott or other catalogue numbers NOT required 21
Judging Postal History Subject Background Many postal history subjects require judges to have some background knowledge of the history of the country/subject/time period. WHY to properly assess rarity/difficulty of finding material and relative condition China 1930s China 1949-1950 PRC period Korea + Taiwan Japanese occupation/control Russia censorship since 1796 foreign newspapers, books, magazines prison conditions 1917 Revolution Civil War WWII alliance with Germany 22
Netherlands East Indies > Indonesia 1945-1950 Brasil Civil War 1930s South Africa Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal 2 nd Boer War Prisoner of War Camps in Ceylon, India Civil Internees But this does NOT mean a history lesson on the Title Page one or two sentences ONLY 23
Introductory Statement We see too much Geography and History but one or two sentences may be justified depends on subject. Look at Leeward Islands Postal Stationery The Leeward Island Federation comprised Antigua... [so we expect to see usage from all 8 islands] The Grand Duchy of Finland was part of Russia from 1809-1917 when it became independent. [Explains use of Russian currency] 24
Split exhibit into sections If possible split the exhibit up into sections. First page of section with section heading. Can also have more information avoids extra writing on Title Page Section numbers + headings = as in Plan on Title Page If not easy to split into sections and exhibit is chronological say so on Title Page: E.g. Exhibit is developed chronologically with the year in heading of each page Don t keep the judge wondering you may lose points it has happened!! 25
Dates Need to be Postal History dates E.g. - 1875 GPU, UPU - 1939 or 1945 start or end of World War II - Start of country s postal services NOT dates of first and last covers Flowcharts + Diagrams + Tables be careful must be easy to follow 26
Page Headings Save space with single line page headings with 2 parts e.g. Censorship Process [at left] Resealing [at right] Double check page heading must be correct. Page had: Postal History Picture Post Card - but there were 2 postal stationery cards on page 27
Example: Section Heading + Page Heading 28
Section Introduction 29
Description v. Analysis Many exhibits state what can be easily seen on covers = Description Not enough ANALYSIS of rates and routes. Cover from Bombay to London, England franked with East India 1a. (1) and 4 as (1) 5as = letter rate for [weight] cancelled with B within square of bars and Bombay Feb 22 cds. London arrival [date] datestamp type 10. 30
8. TREATMENT SREV Art. 3 + G/L # 2 Follow the Plan Development of subject MUST be logical Proper analysis of covers Completeness of material shown including rare or difficult to get items Difficulty of duplicating exhibit how many years? State on Title Page if possible Avoid padding or unnecessary duplication Maps (essential detail only not copied from an atlas) - may help with routes or location of post offices AND they break up the exhibit 31
Map on page 129 of 10 frame exhibit 32
9. IMPORTANCE In relation to general postal history of country In relation to philately in general Is it a good reference exhibit on this subject? You may get good Treatment but low Importance 33
10. KNOWLEDGE & RESEARCH Each item shown should be explained + analysed in relation to Title, Subject and Plan Have you transferred your knowledge to the exhibit pages? Knowledge is more than information in catalogues Personal Study is proper analysis of the items Overpaid or Underpaid covers should be analysed/explained 34
Use photocopies of covers ONLY when necessary in colour + 25% different in size but... a single postmark can be full size If one postmark on back of cover is important - photocopy only that postmark NOT all the back. Photocopy can be at side of cover. Helps you get 2 covers on page Identify your own research 35
11. CONDITION Condition v. Rarity - lose a point on Condition v. Gain a point for Rarity should the item be included?? Condition is relative to subject - wreck covers normally in poor condition but markings should be clear - wartime mail often not in best condition - pre 1900 mail from Australia/New Zealand generally not in as good condition as mail sent within Europe 36
Condition - 2 Covers with corners etc bent over fold them back carefully Condition also affects PRESENTATION Next slide probably unique in or not??? 37
Condition 3 Peru to Moscow 25.8.1917: Return Sending Not permitted / Military Censor 38
12. RARITY Is an item really rare?? hundreds of items on ebay Very Rare at $ 9.99????? Unique don t use could be 2 in the next exhibit it does happen Better to say: One of 5 recorded to date - quote an authority if possible Highlight rare items use Red mattes or put ** against item state method on Title Page 39
Rarity 2 Not previously recorded or Only one recorded perhaps put this in a box so that judges see it Problem is those items very difficult to find but not expensive in $$ terms. 40